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How to Fix Microsoft Word and Excel Apps That Will Not Open
Question details
The user is unable to launch Microsoft Word and Excel, as both the application icons and associated document files remain completely unresponsive to clicks.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to open Word or Excel applications or their associated files from the desktop or file explorer.
- Observed behavior
- Word and Excel fail to open and are completely unresponsive despite a computer restart, while all other applications on the system function normally.
Ensure you have an active internet connection and your Microsoft account login credentials handy, as an online repair or reinstallation will require you to sign back in.
Run Quick Repair and Online Repair
Use the built-in Windows repair tool to scan and fix corrupted Office installation files without completely removing the software.
Windows includes a built-in repair utility specifically for Microsoft Office applications. Running a Quick Repair is fast and fixes most common issues. If that fails, the Online Repair does a more thorough fix by downloading fresh files.
Right-click the Start button and select 'Settings', or press Windows Key + I on your keyboard.
Click on 'Apps' from the left menu, then select 'Installed apps' (or 'Apps & features' in older Windows versions).
Scroll down to locate 'Microsoft 365' or your specific Office version (e.g., Office 2021). Click the three-dot menu next to it and select 'Modify'.
Select 'Quick Repair' and click the 'Repair' button. Wait for the process to finish and test your apps. If they still will not open, repeat the process and choose 'Online Repair'.
Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Office
If standard repairs fail, completely reinstalling Office can resolve deep corruption often caused by flawed automatic background updates.
Use WPS Office to Open Your Word and Excel Files Instantly
If Microsoft Office is unresponsive and repairs are taking too long, WPS Office offers a powerful, free alternative. It installs in seconds and allows you to seamlessly continue your work without missing a beat.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free, lightweight installer.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file. The installation completes in just a few clicks and takes up minimal disk space.
- 3. Open Your Files: Right-click your unresponsive Word or Excel documents, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office to instantly resume your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Microsoft Word and Excel suddenly stop opening?
This issue is most commonly caused by interrupted background updates, conflicting third-party add-ins, or corrupted Windows registry files that prevent the applications from executing properly.
Will repairing Office delete my personal documents or files?
No. Running a Quick Repair or Online Repair only replaces and fixes the core application files. Your personal Word documents and Excel spreadsheets will remain safe and untouched.
What should I do if the 'Modify' button is greyed out in Windows Settings?
If the Modify button is unavailable, your installation might be managed by an organization or is severely corrupted. You can download the official Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool to force an uninstallation and repair.
